Combined clothes washer and drier



Sept. 22, 1953 v. E. RIMSHA ETAL COMBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Filed Jan. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f 17.? E .27 202'15 Victor E. Rims/La 4 .A 2072 10 Cf Gfoodnzt'h P 1953 v. E. RIMSHA ETAL 2,652,708

' COMBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Filed Jan. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 0 ooo iooo o 00 O-OOOO oooooooo oo [n 1 5 nlzvr's Zz'aior .E, Binzsha & A Zonzo U. Goodrich Sept. 22, 1953 V. E. RIMSHA EI'AL COMBINED Filed Jan. 6, 1949 CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 NIH! Po TA TE BASKET LOW 5/ 550 FILL 7'05 HEA TER OPEN 000/? f I/EHZ'DPE KiotorE Rzmsha 6Q Alonzo 6. Goodrich 1 fiaq H239;

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 CODIBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Victor E. Rimsha, Chicago, and Alonzo C. Goodrich, Winnetka, Ill., assignors to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 6, 1949, Serial No. 69,522

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to home laundering machines and more particularly to a home laundering machine having improved elements to maintain the wash water in a warm condition and to dry the clothes therein.

In automatic laundering machines adapted for home use, it is desirable to provide a complete automatic laundering cycle to wash and dry the clothes. In one form of unit, the clothes are first washed by disposing them in a basket and rotating that basket to tumble the clothes while the same are in contact with the warm soapy water retained in a suitable tub. This operation is continued for the time necessary to clean the particular clothes involved at which time automatic control elements drain the water from the tub and spin the basket at high velocity. This latter operation creates centrifugal forces which drain most of the water out of the n clothes to accomplish a preliminary drying action.

In accordance with the present invention, the superficial or preliminary drying operation associated with spinning the clothes basket is supplemented by a complete drying operation achieved by blowing warm air over the clothes. Moreover, at the close of the preliminary drying operation the door to the laundering machine is automatically opened to provide a passageway for the spent or damp drying air and, in addition, to prepare the machine for removal of clothes by the operator.

In home laundering machines of the foregoing type there is always a considerable drop in temperature of the wash water from the time washing is first started until the time washing is finished. Since this wash water has a considerable heat content and, in addition, contains soap, it is desirable in the interest of economy to use it as completely as possible before discharging it. In accordance with the present invention this loss of heat by the wash water is overcome without loss of soap and heat by automatic heating elements disposed in the tub. Further in accord with the present invention the automatic heating elements not only compensate for heat lost by the wash water but, in addition, serve to heat the drying air during final drying operations.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved home laundering machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved home laundering machine in which elements are provided to compensate 2 for the heat losses of the wash water during washing operation.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide automatic elements operative to maintain the wash water at a warm temperature during washing operation and automatically to maintain the heated air during the final drying operation at a higher temperature.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundering machine in which electrically operable elements execute all the various operations.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved home laundering machine wherein passages are provided for the egress of spent air during the air drying operation.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Our invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a complete home laundering machine utilizing the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the axis II--II, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the thermostatic control element of Figure 2 with parts in cross-section;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view through the axis IV-IV, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the laundering machine of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a chart illustrating the cycle of ioperation of the machine of the present invenion.

In the laundering machine of Figure 1 there is shown an outer housing H in which is disposed an inner housing or tub T. The latter housing defines a cylindrical chamber of somewhat elliptical cross-section in which is disposed the clothes basket B. As is best shown in Figure 2, the outer housing H is of sheet metal construction and has a number of access openings 20 and 26a to enable inspection and adjustment of the elements mounted interiorly thereof. The latter opening also provides a convenient aperture through which soap may be introduced into the Wash water.

A web or baffle plate 22 extends across the rear end of the housing H and is welded or otherwise fastened to a base plate 24 upon which the housing H is mounted. A sheet metal plate 26 which forms the tub T is welded or otherwise attached to the baflie plate 22 at its rear end and to the housing H at its upper end. Further support for the tub T is derived from a channel beam 82 which is bent as shown in Figure 1 to sustain the tub.

The plate 26 has a forwardly extending annular lip 28 in mating engagement with a rearwardly extending annular lip 30 of the housing H. These two lips define a throat through which clothes may be inserted into the basket B, the latter having a corresponding opening 32 in alignment with the throat defined by the lips 28 and 30. A door 34 closes the throat defined by the lips 28 and 30 to prevent splashing of fluid during washing operation.

The basket B is of cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section and has a plurality of openings 36 through which water, but not the clothes, may pass freely. The basket B is mounted on a flanged hub 38 which is pressfitted or otherwise attached to a shaft 40. At its opposite end this shaft carries a pulley 42 upon which a belt 44 rides. As this belt is driven, the entire basket B is rotated and clothes disposed therein are tumbled. Warm wash water is contained in the bottom of the tub T so that as the clothes are tumbled they are dipped into this warm wash water and dirt is removed therefrom.

The shaft 40 is supported by two spaced bearings 46 and 48. The former bearing is mounted in a suitable opening in the baflle or web 22 and the latter is mounted on a support bracket 50 which is supported by a flange section 22a of the bafile 22.

Sources of warm and cold inlet water are connected to couplings 52 and 54 (Figure which are mounted on a rear panel 56 of the housing H and which form part of an inlet temperature con.- trol valve 58. This valve may be any one of several fluid mixing valves of the type well known in the art and which are capable of mixing quantities of fluid from two sources of difierent temperatures to form an outlet fluid flow of predetermined temperature. This outlet fluid travels through a pipe 60 to a spray nozzle 62 located on the upper portion of the plate 26 which defines the tub T. A pipe 64 carries fluid from the valve 58 to a float chamber 66.

The valve 58 contains elements selectively operable to cause fluid flow through one or both of pipes 60 and 64 in accord with the energization of pre-selected electric circuits. Fluid flow through pipe 60 operates to spray the clothes within the basket B, whereas fluid flow through pipe 64 simultaneously with flow through pipe 60 acts to fill the lower portion of the tub T to the level required for clothes washing operations. A float operated switch (not shown) is included within the float chamber 66 and contains electrical contact elements operative to deenergize the appropriate circuit in valve 58 to discontinue fluid flow through the pipes 64 and 60 when the fluid level in the tub T reaches a predetermined height.

A pipe 68 leads directly from the hot water inlet of valve 58 to a temperature control valve I0. This valve defines a fluid passageway from the pipe 68 to a coupling 12 to which is connected a heating coil I4. The opposite end of this heating coil extends through the bottom of the tub T to a pipe I6 and an outlet pipe 80.

A drain sump 84 is formed on the lower portion of the tub T and is connected to a pipe 86. This pipe is in fluid communication with a pump 88 which in turn communicates with the outlet pipe through a solenoid operated valve 18. When the pump 88 is operated by a motor 92, water is pumped from the sump 84 to the drain pipe 80.

The belt 44 is driven from a pulley 88 which is mounted on a shaft extending from a gear box 90 which in turn is driven by the electric motor 92. The latter motor is mounted on a U-shaped bracket 94 and drives both the gear box 90 and the pump 88.

The gear box 90 includes electric elements (not shown) which may be selectively energized to control the speed ratio between the motor 92 and the pulley 88. This structure may be any one of the mechanisms for the purpose well known in the art.

A motor-operated blower 96 is mounted on the upwardly extending portion of the plate 26 which defines the tub T. This plate has suitable perforations or openings 91 (Figure 5) to permit passage of air into the chamber defined by the tub T when the motor of blower 96 is energized.

As is best shown in Figure 4, the door 34 comprises a front panel 98 and a rear panel I00 mounted in spaced relationship and forming a lip portion which tightly engages an annular rubber insert I02 to close the tub T. One end of the door 34 is supported on a hinge I02 and has a coil spring I04 which biases the door toward the open position shown on the dotted lines of Figure 4. A tongue I06 extends from the opposite end of the door 34 and is held by a latch I08 to retain the door closed against the bias of spring I04. This latch is pivotally supported from the housing H and has a spring I I0 biasing it to the catching position relative to the tongue I06. A solenoid H2 is mounted in spaced relationship to the latch I08 and a solenoid plunger arm H4 is pivotally attached at one end to the latch I08 and at the other end extends within the solenoid II2. Thus, when the solenoid H2 is energized, the plunger arm H4 is retracted against the biasing spring H0 and disengages latch I08 to release the door 34 for movement under the bias of spring I04 to the open position shown in the dotted lines of Figure 4. A cover II6 extends over the solenoid N2, the latch I08, and the elements associated therewith.

It is the function of the temperature control valve I0 to control the flow of fluid to the pipe forming the heating coil I4. The construction of this valve may best be understood by reference to Figure 3 which is a greatly enlarged view of this valve with elements broken away to expose the interior to view. As will be evident from this figure, the valve I0 includes a cast housing I20 defining an annular chamber I22 in fluid communication with the interior of pipe 68. In addition, an inner chamber I24 is formed within the chamber I22, thus defining an annular lip across which a flexible diaphragm I26 extends. This diaphragm contains a small opening I28 in communication with the chamber I22 and a somewhat larger opening I30 in communication with the chamber I24. A drawn sheet metal plate I29 is attached to the housing I20 adjacent the overlapping peripheral portions of the diaphragm I 26 to hold the latter in position and define a fluid-tight chamber within which a plunger I32 may move. A solenoid I34 encircles the extending portion of the cap I29 to control the position of the plunger I32,

As is well known to those skilled in the art,

when current flows in the solenoid I34 the plunger I32 is lifted and the opening I30 is uncovered.

Since fluid flows out from the region above the diaphragm I26 at a faster rate than it can enter through bleeder hole I28, the pressure in the chamber above the diaphragm I26 drops, thus causing the fluid pressure on the underside of the diaphragm to lift diaphragm I26 to a spaced position relative to an annular seat I3I defined by the cavities I24 and I22 and permitting the fluid to flow over that seat and into the passage I24 of the valve. On the other hand, when solenoid I34 is de-energized, the plunger I32 descends to cover the opening I30, thereby permitting fluid pressure to build up above the diaphragm I26 due to fluid flow through hole I28. The diaphragm thereupon closes against the lip I3I.

The chamber I24 is in communication with a temperature control chamber I36. This chamber snugly receives a shiftable cup-shaped valve member I38 which has a plurality of openings I40 permitting fluid flow to the coupling I2 and the heater I4.

The cup-shaped valve member I38 coacts with a flat valve seat member I42 to close an annular channel I43 to obstruct fluid flow from the chamber I24 to the chamber I36. A spring I44 is interposed between these members to bias them to spaced positions relative to each other.

The position of the cup-shaped valve member I38 is controlled by a thermostatic control element I46 which extends beyond the wall 26 of the tub T for exposure to fluid contained within that tub. This element may be any one of various elements well known in the art and which experiences an increased dimension with increased temperature. In the specific element shown, a movable arm I48 shifts to the right relative to a forward wall I20a of the housing I20 when the temperature of the element I46 increases, thereby pushing the cup-shaped valve member I38 to the right and diminishing fluid flow to the chamber I36.

A disk spring I50 forms a resiliently deformable seat against which the valve seat member I42 rests and thereby restores the valve seat I42 to its initial position, if the temperature of the fluid in tub T becomes excessive and causes the valve member 38 to shift the valve seat M2 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 3).

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the control valve I includes a solenoid I34 which may be energized or deenergized to control the supply of hot water to coil 14 and, in addition, a temperature responsive element I46 operable in response to the fluid temperature in the tub T to control the supply to heater 14 in accord with the temperature of that element.

When the tub T is filled with water the element I46 partakes of the temperature of that water and controls the fluid flow through the chamber I36 to maintain that water at a predetermined temperature. When the tub T is empty, the element I46 acts to control the flow of fluid through the heater I4 to maintain the temperature of that element at a similar predetermined temperature. Thus, the heater I4 is automatically actuated to maintain either the washing fluid or the drying air at predetermined temperature.

Figure 6 shows a typical laundering cycle that may be executed by a machine constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention. The door 34 is first opened and the clothes inserted therein. Following this, the door 20:; is

opened and soap admitted to the tub T. The automatic washing operation is'then commenced.

During the washing operation the electrically energized gear box is energized to drive the basket B at a medium rate of speed to tumble the clothes contained therein. At this time the temperature control valve 58 is energized to permit fluid flow through the tube or pipe 64 and the pipe 60 to fill the tub T, this filling operation being discontinued when the fluid level in float chamber 66 reaches the selected level. Simultaneously, the heater valve I0 is energized to cause hot water flow through coil 14 in such quantities as to maintain the temperature of the fluid at the desired value.

The foregoing conditions continue to exist for the predetermined time necessary to wash the clothes contained in the basket B. This may be accomplished by a suitable timer mechanism (not shown).

Following the clothes washing operation, the drain solenoid I8 is energized to permit pump 88 to pump water out of the tub T. If desired, the valve 58 may be energized for a short period to pass water through the pipe 60 for the short period of time required to rinse clothes contained within the tub T. As soon as the fluid level in tub T is below the level of basket B, as may be indicated by suitable float mechanism contained in the float chamber 66, the gear box 90 is energized to cause rotation of the basket B at a relatively high velocity and for a time period sufliicient for preliminary drying action.

Upon completion of the preliminary drying operation, the gear box 90 is energized to cause relatively low speed rotation of the basket B. Simultaneously, the drain solenoid I8 and the heating control valve I0 are energized, as well as the blower 96. In addition, the solenoid H2 is energized to release the latch I08 and open the door 34. At this time air is blown by blower 62 through the tub T and outthe door 34, this air being heated by the heater I4. Finally, after the time period required for the clothes to dry, the laundering cycle is complete and the entire unit is de-energized.

The foregoing control operation may be accomplished by the use of various devices well known in the art. One simple and eifective method is to use cams operative to close and open switches as required to energize the valves and other elements in the desired time sequence and which are mounted on a common shaft for rotation by a timing motor which is energized at the beginning of the cycle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the laundering machine of the present invention is capable of not only using the wash water more effectively by maintaining it at a predetermined effective washing temperature but, in addition, operates effectively to dry the clothes contained within the basket B by heating the air therein and blowing it over the clothes. Moreover, the door 34 not only forms an access door by which clothes may be added to or removed from the laundering machine but, in addition, forms an opening for egress of drying air from the unit.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will, of course, be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications, both in the elements employed and the cooperative structure disclosed, may be mad without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. We, of course, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automatic laundering machine of the type having a clothes receiving door and a perforate clothes containing basket therein having a clothes receiving opening in registery with said door, the improvements comprising a, spring connected between said casing and door and operative to open and hold said door open, a latch on said casing. an interengaging connection between said latch and door for holding said door closed against said spring, a solenoid including a coil having an armature retractable therein upon energization of said coil, a pivotal connection between said armature and latch for moving the same to released position upon energization of said coil, a blower positioned within said casing adjacent said basket, to inject drying air into said basket, a motor, drive connections from said motor to said basket to rotate said basket at a relatively low speed for washing, a higher speed for preliminary drying and a relatively low speed for final drying, a drain, a solenoid operated valve controlling the flow of water through said drain, and means effective to operate said blower, energize said valve-operating solenoid to open said drain valve and energize said latchoperating solenoid to open said door upon completion of the preliminary clothes drying operation.

2. In an automatic laundry machine of the type having a casing, a clothes receiving door in a wall thereof, a perforate clothes containing basket journaled Within said casing, a blower within said casing and having communication with said basket a motor for driving said blower, a spring connected between said casing and door and biasing said door to an open position, a tongue on said door, a retractable catch pivotally mounted on said casing for engagement with said tongue, to hold said door in a closed position against the action of said spring, a solenoid mounted on said casing and including a magnet coil and an armature pivotally connected with said catch and effective to move said catch to a released position upon energization of said solenoid and electrical connections between said blower and said solenoid to simultaneously energize said solenoid and said motor for driving said blower at the completion of a preliminary drying operation, to open said door and establish an air outlet passageway and circulation of air through said door for a final drying operation.

3. In a combination laundering machine and drier, a casing having a tub therein, said casing having an opening for clothes, said opening leading into said tub, a perforate wall clothes container journaled for rotation within said tub and having a clothes receiving opening therein registering with said opening in said casing, a motor, means driven by said motor for rotatably driving said clothes container, a blower mounted on said tub to force air through said tub and the perforate wall of said clothes container and out of the clothes receiving opening thereof, a door hinged to said casing and closing the opening thereinto, spring means urging said door into an open position, a retractable latch member holding said door in a closed position, and a solenoid controlling operation of said latch means and operable to release said latch means and allow said door to open upon operation of said blower, and establish a circulation of air through said clothes container and out said door.

4. In a combination laundering machine and drier, a casing having a tub therein, said casing having an opening for clothes, said opening leading into said tub, a perforate wall clothes container journaled for rotation within said tub and having a clothes receiving opening therein registering with said opening in said casing, a door hinged to said casing to close said opening therein, spring means urging said door into an open position, a latch on said casing and engageable with said door for holding said door closed, a blower within said casing directing a stream of hot air thereinto through the perforate wall of said clothes container and out of said door, power means operable upon operation of said blower to release said latch to allow said door to open, a heating coil within said tub for circulating heating fluid to heat the water therein for washing,

and the air therein for drying, a valve on the outside of said tub controlling the passage of heating fluid to said coil, and a temperature responsive element extending within said tub and having an extensible plunger operatively connected with said valve for controlling operation thereof in accordance with the temperature within said tub.

VICTOR E. RIMSI-IA. ALONZO C. GOODRICH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

